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  #1  
Old 12/24/2007, 11:34 AM
fishmogul fishmogul is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: ohio
Posts: 13
Protein Skimmer take good things out of the water?

Im setting up a 75 gallon tank and wonder if a protein skimmer might take beneficial organisms out of my tank? It seems as though there may be downsides to a protein skimmer. Any thoughts?
  #2  
Old 12/24/2007, 12:04 PM
ReefWreak ReefWreak is offline
#1 Acro Crab Killah
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Boca Raton or Tallahassee - Florida State University
Posts: 2,628
Yes it does. However the benefits SIGNIFICANTLY outweigh the costs of protein skimming. Some people are able to run a reef tank without a skimmer, and I can understand how and why, but for me and most other reefers as well, it's not really an option.

You can replace a skimmer with a working Deep Sand Bed, best option is Remote Deep Sand Bed in a Bucket, either of those working in tandem with a photosynthetic refugium with cheato, caulerpa, or another fast growing higher order algae. Maybe even using an Algal Turf Scrubber (though a lot of work and difficult/complicated to setup) is an option.

There are more than one way to do things, but for most of us, skimmer is the easiest/best solution.
  #3  
Old 12/24/2007, 02:50 PM
fishmogul fishmogul is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: ohio
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Thanks Reefwreak, I began to wonder about potential harm of protein skimming or for that matter any mechanical filtration when listening to a podcast by Eric Borneman on Talking Reef . He mentioned how at night how many small organisms were observed within a couple inches of the bottom of the sand in the water column and how skimming might affect this. I like your list alternatives for filtration. I have a large protein skimmer, and probably will use it on new tank, just concerned about over skimming.
  #4  
Old 12/24/2007, 03:13 PM
JC VT JC VT is offline
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Location: Blacksburg, VA
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I suppose it might make sense to forgo a skimmer if your goal is raise those benthic organisms. But I have a feeling that's not what you are going for :-P
  #5  
Old 12/24/2007, 05:25 PM
King-Kong King-Kong is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Gainesville, FL
Posts: 2,280
Quote:
Originally posted by JC VT
I suppose it might make sense to forgo a skimmer if your goal is raise those benthic organisms. But I have a feeling that's not what you are going for :-P
Exactly.
  #6  
Old 12/25/2007, 12:14 AM
Carnavor180 Carnavor180 is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Pa.
Posts: 67
i use a algae turf scrubber, and i have no complants, takes a little skill and time but once you get the hang of growing and harvesting the turf its great, the reef flora they produce and support are great for the reef.
 

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